The Dark King

by Steffen Schmidt

  "Is it really dangerous?" There was a trace of disappointed in Jenny's eyes.

  Dudian saw her sad eyes, suddenly felt himself as if killed off a good hope. He couldn't bear to break her heart so he continued: "However, although there is danger but it does not mean that there are no seas and forests. I believe, one day, the danger outside the giant wall will disappear and we will be able to go out and see the mountains and the sea and everything..."

  Jenny 's eyes lit up: "Really?

  "Really!" Dudian replied in a serious tone.

  Jenny's face smiled and said: "I think so too. I had told my father about it before but he told me to give up the idea. He said that the outside of the giant wall is an unknown place. In addition, he said that only special personnel such as you can go outside the wall, other people are prohibited from going out. "

  Dudian smiled but did not say anything.

  "I really want to go outside the giant wall!" Jenny face full of longing. Suddenly, she thought of something looked at Dudian: "Since the giant wall so dangerous, why do scavengers go outside? "

  Dudian thought that she should be aware of it. Moreover nobles were much clearer on issue rather than him. However, as the girl's age was young. Apparently she was not involved in these aristocratic politics: "I don't know the reason. Perhaps like you, I just want to go outside to see."

  Jennifer looked at him with a trace of admiration: "You are so powerful. Obviously we are same age but you are more brave than I am."

  "Because I'm a boy." Dudian smiled.

  Jenny's face turned red. She secretly looked up to Dudian. She saw that he didn't notice her embarrassed appearance, and her heart was relieved. But her heartbeat was slightly accelerated. How can I and a boy be in a garden alone? If father knew... no! no!... He can't learn about it.

  She was going to bid farewell to Dudian and leave.

  "Do not misunderstand. I do not discriminate against women. In our training camp there were many girls. But I think you should still listen to your father's advice. Outside the giant wall is indeed very dangerous. You just have to wait until those dangers are swept out. Sooner or later you will be able to see the outside world. I believe that it won't take long for that day to come over!"

  By the faint moonlight, Jenny looked at the boy's serious and confident look. She could not help but startled for a moment. She subconsciously asked: "Really?

  "Uh-huh!" Dudian nodded affirmatively.

  Jenny heard his words. It seems as if she was infected by them: "I believe you!"

  Dudian smiled and said: "I believe in myself."

  Jenny giggle. "~puchi~". Her previous intention to leave has long been missing.: "You know, my dream is to become a" magistrate ". Although the officials can not go outside the giant wall, but at least can judge all the bad inside the giant wall. I believe that there are no bad people in the world and if we work together we will soon be able to remove the danger outside the giant wall."

  Dudian smiled and said: "Are you studying law?

  "Of course." Jenny grinned as a proud expression appeared on her face.

  Dudian laughed: "I study law too."

  Jenny said with surprise: "Have you also learned the law?

  "Self-learning," Dudian added.

  "You want to be a magistrate?"

  "Well, my goal is as great as yours!"

  "Great?" "Yes, our goals are great!"

  "how old are you?"

  "Just turned eleven."

  "I'm almost twelve."

  The darkness gradually deepened. The more they talked the more they were unaware of how the time flew. They talked about lots of things, from their hobbies to their ages. As well as their views on things. They had way too much in common, as if they had found long lost friends.

  "One without ears, one without tail, giggle ..." Jenny clutched her stomach because of laughind hard. She completely forgot to pay attention to the image of noble lady that she had to kept: "What a strange son. So strange lyrics... It's fun thou... "

  Dudian said: "It is a children's song."

  Jenny smiled as she thought how could there be such a strange children's songs.

  Dudian just wanted to say a few more children's songs, suddenly he felt a mosquite bite his wrist. He shot with his backhand to kill it. The suddent sound woke up them from the sweet chat. They looked back at the direction of the banquet hall.

  Jenny also reacted. She felt bad: "I have to go back. If my father can not find me he will be very angry."

  Dudian was also planning to go back: "Then you go first. I will wait a while. Let's not be caught together"

  Jenny's face turned red. She ran outside the pavilion, suddenly though of something and turned back: "You just said you also heard a lot of nice poetry. I also like poetry. Can you tell me one?"

  Dudian was surprised for a moment. She was not sheltered under the pavilion. The moon rays were reflected on her cheek. This moment, she was as beautiful as unreal fairy. His heart was throbbing subconsciously. He knew a lot of Tang poetry which was classified as Eastern classical poetry. It was totally different from this era's poetry genre.

  Suddenly, he thought of the modern poetry which her sister often read:

  How do I let you meet me,

  At my most beautiful moment.

  For this,

  I beseeched the God for five hundred years,

  I asked Him to let us meet in earthly life.

  God let me become a tree,

  Grown on the roadside that you pass by every day.

  ...

  Dudian remembered that this poem was called "A Tree in Blossom". He had changed the word "Buddha" to "God" while reciting. After all, the faith of the world is dictated by the Holy Church and there is no Buddhism.

  Jenny was stunned as she listened to Dudian quietly recite the verse. After a while she turned around and fled along the trail to disappear in the darkness.

  Chapter 37: Two 'blessings'

  10 minutes had passed since Jenny had left when Dudian began to walk through the trail towards the estate. He was reaching the banquet hall when he heard bursts of hearty laughter from far away. It seems the party had finished, as Dudian saw the banquet hall's door completely open. One after another nobles came out in groups.

  Dudian did not expect for his timing to be the on line with banquet's ending. In his heart he was thankful to the mosquito which had bitten his wrist. He didn't enter the banquet hall but instead walked down the main road towards the entrance of the manor. He used another route to join the main road to close up to entrance of the banquet hall. There was no nobles so he trotted past, pretending to come out from the banquet hall. As if ready to return back home any moment.

  He saw the there were only seven or eight carriages left in comparison to large numbers of them that were neatly parked close by to each other when they had initially came over.

  Dudian's heart was relieved when he saw Peter's carriage standing outside.

  He went over but there was no one in the carriage. It was clear that Peter had yet to come out.

  Dudian first sat in the carriage to wait inside.

  Before long, Peter drifted back in an extremely drank state. He saw Dudian inside the carriage: "You?... how?... you here? You... me...admired...long ... " He was in a state where he couldn't express himself. Peter's body was shaking. Dudian helped him into the carriage.

  Dudian was dumbfounded as he said: "You shouldn't drink more. Come sit over for a break."

  "Higher ups... orders... in the next must do so ..." Peter spoke in vague sentences to understand anything out of his speech. However he obediently went inside the carriage and sat down to lean on his right side.

  Dudian watched Peter's nonstop giggling. He sighed, lifted the curtain and said to the driver, "Go back."

  "Yes, sir," said the coachman respectfully and then shook the rope.

  ...

  ...

  They first dropped off Peter and later came to the temporary accommodation castle pr
ovided by the Mellon consortia where Dudian got off.

  It was late night so Mason and others were in deep sleep. Except the gatekeepers on shift, the rest of the attendants, servants and maids were resting. Dudian returned to his room to lie on bed. A lot of things emerged in his mind that he had encountered in the party. There was both humiliation and anger. He thought about beautiful girl that brought joy to his mind. Gradually he fell asleep.

  The following day, Dudian woke up early in the morning but Peter had come over to the castle carrying a wooden box.

  "Good morning, Mr. Peter," said Dudian greeting him. Dudian was surprised as he didn't expect Peter who was so drunk last night to be awake and so fresh early in the morning.

  Peter smiled and said: "Last night I was way too drunk. Coachman said that you had sent me back home"

  "This is how it should be, doesn't it?." Dudian looked at the small box in his hand and said, "What's this?"

  Peter put the box on the table in the living room and opened the box. There was a syringe that Dudian had previously seen. He understood that the reason Peter had come was to give him the "God's blessing".

  "Yesterday you were just transferred over so did not have time to give use it on you. I assume, there is no need for introduction about what this is. Dean, you will get two 'blessings'. First is on the basis of distribution, the other is your first month quota. The other one will be issued to you exactly this day of next month. "Peter laughed.

  "Would you let me take it home and use it myself?" Asked Dudian.

  "Of course not," Peter shook his head. "This is the power of the Holy Church which is the gift of God. The rule is that it must be seen by the witnesses when it is used. I brought it to you so I'm your witness. "

  Dudian regretted as the chance to research the contents of the syringe was lost. However, thinking about it he had no proper equipment for the research so there was no way to study it.

  "Come on, first." Peter said as he took the syringe from the box.

  Dudian was lacking in trust department so he asked: "This ... no problems, right?"

  Peter's face turned cold: "I'm going to forget what you had said. Do not even think about talking like this somewhere outside. It is same as questioning the God!"

  Dudian naturally understood this point so he had to select words tactfully in the future. If he didn't directly question the God then there won't be any problems.

  "Do not worry. This is the gift of the God. There has never been adverse reactions since the first scavenger that had used it." Peter answered.

  Dudian did not say anything but was surprised. It was an awe-inspiring moment from a scientist's perspective. How did the Holy Church create such a perfect gene agent? Is it possible to mass produce scavengers?

  Peter injected the fluid inside the syringe into Dudian's arm. He felt no pain just felt some numbness. Soon, all of the pink fluid inside the syringe was pushed into his body.

  Dudian felt a surge of enthusiasm that was spreading into his body and limbs. A violent heat flew to his brain. It felt as if the whole blood inside his body was blown to his mind in a matter of seconds. He roared loudly and the heat began to flow in reverse back to his body and limbs. It felt very painful as it was almost like someone was trying to tear his limbs apart. He bit his teeth to bear the pain.

  Soon, this heat like a tide of water faded away. Dudian looked up and immediately felt different. His vision was very sensitive. He could see small details of Peter's face that he was not aware before.

  Dudian thought of Lorian's strength, immediately jumped in place.

  Dudian felt like flying. With a single jump he had reached almost the level of Peter's head. He fall back to the ground, raising his hand he grabbed a chair. It felt as light as catkins.

  "Well, wait a minute and then we can use the second one," Peter laughed.

  Dudian looked at the second syringe Peter had picked up, and asked, "Is it going to feel like this every time? "

  Peter smiled and said: "Of course not, the initial injection the effect will be very significant. But your body will get used to it so the effect will be weaker as you get more injections."

  Dudian although expected this, but still can not help but regret. If the effect could be doubled or tripled then simply a monster like existence will appear at the result of using genetic agents of Holy Church.

  They were just scavengers and had such terrible power. So what kind of an existence a hunter was?

  Soon, Peter injected the second syringe into Dudian's arm. The heat flowed again from his body. This time it was not as strong as before, and Dudian only felt a slight tearing and the heat faded away.

  Dudian looked again, immediately felt his vision cleared a lot. He knew that his power had improved a lot. He thought he could barehandedly kill a tiger if he had faced it.

  "Go ahead and teach the others," Peter laughed.

  Dudian nodded slightly.

  Mason cried hard.

  Before long, all the injections were completed. For a time the whole castle was extraordinarily noisy, everyone was jumping, experiencing the incredible power they had acquired.

  After Peter left, Dudian returned to his room to pack up. He was ready to return to the residential district.

  "We can live for free for three days. Are you going today?

  "We also intend to go to the busy downtown market today!"

  "Why are you in hurry? This is such a rare opportunity."

  Mason and the other two tried to persuade Dudian.

  However, Dudian had already made his mind. He bid farewell to them, called a carriage and went to residential district.

  As soon as the carriage reached Lin Kang Street No. 108 Dudian jumped out of it. He paid sixty copper coins. His heart was in pain, as the carriage hired in commercial district would charge twice higher for same distance in comparison to carriage hired in residential district or in slums.

  At this time, Dudian suddenly saw another carriage parked by their door. "Are there any guests?" , he wondered.

  He bypassed the carriage, opened the door outside the white fence and was about the enter the house when he heard the voices of outgoing quarrel. He was surprised. He raised his hand and knocked on the door.

  Soon, the door was opened by Jura. She looked strangely at Dudian, said: "You are?

  After three years of scavenger training Dudian's appearance has also undergone tremendous changes. His build was a lot stronger than the original, color was not so pale but tanned into the wheat color. As a result Jura actually did not recognize him.

  "Auntie, it's me." Dudian.

  Jura heard his voice that had changed a little: "You are Dean!"

  Dudian lightly chuckled: "The training is over, I'm back."

  Jura eyes suddenly flushed. She embolded Dudian in her arms: "You have come back. You have finally come back! Your uncle and I were afraid that you were in some kind of trouble... It's good that you are okay... ..." She immediately pushed Dudian, looked up and down at him. She was relieved as she saw his hands and feet intact.

  Dudian's heart warmed up as he saw her so exaggerated. He smiled and said: "Originally wanted to buy you few specialties from commercial district. I had no money so didn't buy anything"

  "Silly child. You coming back alive and well is a gift." Jura smiled and touched Dudian's hair: "The three years have gone by. You are so high, and over there ..."

  "Do not go too far!" At this point, an angry voice came from the living room. It was Gray's voice.

  Jura face changed, and quickly turned back to the living room.

  Chapter 38: Boundaries

  Dudian also followed into the living room.

  Dudian saw two figures in addition to Gray in the living room. One was obese man with a big belly. There were three or four gold rings on his fingers. Another was a slender man wearing a suit. His hair was combed neatly looking like a noble.

  "Gray, pay attention to your attitude!" Dudian came in just to hear the slim man's wailing voic
e.

  Gray clenched his fist tightly as he looked at the slim man in anger: "We have purchased this house. The amount of the tax was written on the contract and it was paid. For you to raise the origin tax, it is just simply illegal! "

  Obese middle-aged man chuckled: "You are a small tailor. Do you even know what law is? This whole Lin Kang street is mine. It is my territory. Whatever I say is the law. Even if you want to go to trial, I welcome you to do so anytime. "

  Gray gritted his teeth and said, "You are thief!"

  "Well, this is slander. I have been personally attacked, I can sue you for this!" Slim man spoke in a cold tone.

  At this time, Jura looked at the red face of Gray and hurried to hold his hand: "This matter. Give us some time to discuss it. Such a high tax, we really can not afford to pay. "

  Obese middle-aged man said lightly: "You are sensible. But we had already given you few days. Today is the last day. I will come back at night and I hope you will give me a satisfactory answer" Finished he stood up to leave.

  "Wait a minute." At this time, Dudian stood in front of the obese man.

  "Uh?" Obese middle-aged looked at this kid who was up to his shoulder. He frowned: "Little guy, who are you?"

  At this time, Gray also noticed Dudian. He saw Dudian's completely changed appearance, stunned: "Dean? You, you have come back?"

  Dudian nodded slightly, and then looked up at the obese middle-aged: "With a body like that it would be very hard for you to make trip back and forth. Actually we don't like to be disturbed in our home."

  Obese middle-aged smiled and said: "Little guy, I heard Gray has adopted a child, is that you?

  Dudian did not answer him, but continued: "First of all, according to Land Law,

  Chapter III, Article VI, a one-time purchase of land and real estate, property tax must be paid off with the housing money. When Jura and Gray bought this house, they had already paid for it. Or else they would not have got the proof for the property."

  "In the seventh verse of the fourth